The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-07-09
A glass of water was all that he "a

uueste(. as he sat or rather fell into q
chair He told the man that it was an
attack of the vertigo; it would soon be
over. He felt as though his reason was
fast leaving him; strange phantasies shot
through his brain.
That Cora loved another, and that
person a convicted frlon, was his first
deduction. The terrible truth sank into
his soul like poisoned shaft. A craving
for revenge on the man he had just seen
all but controlled him.
That man should never live to enjoy
the happiness that should be his.
The usher in his dismay was about to
shout for help, thinking he was Gagged
with mad man. when Harlow suddenly
sprang to his side and hoarsely whis-
pered:
"Who is that man in the other room"
The latter seeing that his companion
had subsidized somewhat in his wildness,
deigned to reply.
1t was John Lane, who was about to be
discharged from prison. He had been
convicted of forgery and had served
fifteen years sentence. The woman was
his daughter. This was all he knew.
The sudden revulsion in Harlow's feel
ings stunned him; he reeled and would
have fallen had not the usher caught him
in time; then reason again found its way
to the brain. He slipped gold coin
into the hand of the usher and left the
prison.
He sought tree near by, whose large,
dropping branches afforded a good en-
sconcemcnt, and, throwing himself on the
green grasses, began to ruminate over the
exciting circumstances which had Just
taken place.
That. indeed, was one of the happiest
moments of his life. His heart never
beat so lightly before.
The words ''noble, grand girl" es-
capped his lips in the delirium of his de-
light All, now he knew the reason of
her magnanimous sacrifice; of her re-
fusal to accept the hand of the man she
loved. The filial love was paramount to
all other affections.
Why had she not told him all? So
great was his love he could have forgiven
everything.
He lay on the cool grass for some time,
turning over future plans, but was at last
reused from his blissful thoughts by the
noise of the approaching train which was
to bear him and his love back to San
Francisco.
He watched the devoted couple until
they boarded the train, and then took a
seat himself in the rear coach. How diff
ferent was the journey back Every OBJ
ject along the road sparkled like a daz-
zling gem; every plot of grass disclosed
some newborn charm the very air seemed
to breathe happiness. John Harlow's
new life began when he boarded the train
that afternoon. For reasons better known
to himself he did not see Cora Lane for
two weeks after the prison episode.
He allowed the excitement of the past
few weeks to completely die out before
he ventured to see her. Then he found
her and reiterated his undying affection.
They were soon married and returned to
the East, but the father remained in San
Francisco, where for many years he led
good, useful life, and fully expiated his
past misdeeds. John buried the secret Of
his wife deep in his noble heart; as re-
CARDS that his lips were forever silent.
Often as he sits and gazes into her large,
liquid eyes he wonders if she reads his
thoughts; but as she never speaks of the
reason why for three long years she
avoided the man she loved, he rests con-
tented that his secret is unknown to her.
-New York Journal